Fire-extinguisher.



G.IF. SIE'PHIi-IISON..l

FIRE EXTINGUISHER. APPLICATION FILD MAY 26. 1916. 1,217,236. Peeented Feb. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

III

IIIIIII G. F. STEPHENSON.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2s, 1916.

Lzl'. i Patnted Feb. 27,1917.

2 sHEETs-sIIEET 2.

"/Ii k l IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII,

III ll llhl lI Il in Fire-Extinguishers,

` an acid with GEORGE F. srEPHEivsoN, or LUzEnNnPENNsYEv .;-f

Application mea Mayas, 191e. ,serial No.1'oe.o47'.f 'j

To all 'whom t may concern."

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. STEPHEN- soN, a citizen of the United States, at Luzerne, Luzerne` county, Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements of which the following is a specification. v

My invention relates particularly to automatic lire extinguishers,and is designed for use in buildings, vehicles or wherever suchdevices are necessary. Y

It"l is common to provide automatic fire extinguishers containing an inert chemical, as a liquid solution of bicarbonateof soda, and to provide a separate acid. container, the contents of which is adapted to be mixed with the chemical to generate gas, which forces the combined liquid through a discharge pipe onto the fire. l y/ But this combined chemical is very corrosive, eating into fabrics, pitting and rusting metals, and destroying or damaging everything with which it contacts, thereby materially the fire.

The simplicity of parts, ease of operation, and eiiciency of power generated. by this class of extinguishers is, however, unquestionable, and therefore, one object of my invention is the provision of an automatic fire extinguisher, wherein the generation of pressure by the automatic commingling of an inert chemical, is employed to discharge a fire extinguishing compound harmless to fabrics, metals or other materials, animal or vegetable, whereby any loss occasioned by a fire is not increased by damages causedv by the chemical extinguishing compound. Y Y

To this end, I have contrived a mechanism wherein the fire extinguishing liquid and the pressure generating chemicals are kept 'sep-f arate, the gas pressure only being admitted to the reservoir containing the fire extinguishing compound to discharge the latter;

Another object of my invention is the provision of novel and` improved means for sup- ,containen which porting the` acid container in place against accidentally commingling with the norniallyinert chemical, and for insuringthe automatic emptying or discharge of the acid container when necessary. 1

A further object is to provide a simple support and releasing means for the acid permits the ready removal and replacement of such container.

Specification of Letters Patent.

increasing the loss occasioned by Patentea'nea, e7, fait;

' Other objects and advantages will be'ini'ore 'fully disclosed. hereinafter fand particularly residing In the drawings. v

pointed out in the claims.

Fgure 1 is a side view of an equipped with one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. '2 tion; l.

Fig. 3 vis a detail top plan view of the support forthe acid container, as it normallyv appears .when set for operation;

automobile i vis a sectionalv View of my inven- Flg. 4 is a sectional viewthereo, showing the'acid Abottle or container in place;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan View of the container support, showing the container in cross-section;

Fig. 6 is a top plan View 'of the container support, showing the positions of the parts when tripped;

y Fig. 7 is a sectional view, showing the bot- I tlc in the leased;

Fig. 8l is a bottom leased, the container section; Y

Fig. 9 is a front view of the valve normally closing communication between the reservoir'and the pressure chamber;

Fig. 10 is a detail of the fusible lock which retains the container support effective, and

position assumed just as it is reglan of the nparts reeing shown in cross sprinkler head1 r y l Although I have'elected to illustrate the device as applied toan automobile, it is uninvention is not restricted 'Fig 11 is a cross sectional, View of a derstood that my in' its use thereto,

However,A it is especially adapted for this Aand kindred uses, by'reason o f its compactness, which enables it to bef readily applied 1to vehicles of this description. Damage and loss due to backfiring in the carbureters of automobiles is of frequent occurrence, and the operator ofttimes is -unaware of the fire until it has obtained considerable headway, after which it is too dangerous to attempt to extinguish the blaze. As the fire starts beneath the hood inclosing the motor, it heats the hoodto such a high degree that the Oper'- ator when finally apprised of the danger, is unable to raise the hood in order to obtain access to the'blaz'e, himself. K y My invention is preferablyattached to the front of the dashboard underneath'the hood, in position for immediate automatic operawithout 'severely burning tion 'as soon as the lire starts, and without at- CTT' tention of any 'sort on the part of the operator.

rllhe location of the device in the zone of the fire obviates the necessity ofthe operator taking any risks, and in fact, extinguishes the blaze before it can do any appreciable amount of damage, and often before the operator is aware of such condition.

Referring to Fig. 1,.the motor or engine 1 located between the radiator 2 and the dashboard 3, is completely inclosed by a hood 4. A brace rod 5 above the motor, connects the radiator and dashboard.

The reservoir 6 containing any suitable harmless fire extinguishing liquid is conveniently secured to the front of the dashboard 3 beneath the hood si in any suitable manner, as by straps '2'. So far as the purposes of this invention are concerned, the reservoir may be considered as being filled with Water, although any suitable tire extinguishingliquid may be employed. A' ilexible discharge tube 8 Vleads from the reservoir to a sprinkler head1), (see Figs. 1 and 11) located preferably a little in front of and above the carbureter 10. A hanger 11 conveniently secures the tube to the brace rod 5. l

The reservoir may be separate from the power-generating chamber 12, but in the embodiment herein shown, (Fig. 2) and in order to render the device more compact, 1 combine the reservoir and the power-generating or pressure chamber in one vessel or tank, preferably cylindrical in shape, a partition 13 separating the interior into two compartments, the larger of which contains the fire extinguishing liquid and the smaller containing a normally inert chemical adapted, when an acid is commingled there- With, to generate a large volume of gas.

The fire extinguishing liquid may be introduced into the reservoir through an .open ing therein, closed by a screw` plug 14.

1t will also be noted that the inlet end ont the discharge tube 8 extends to a point close to the bottom of the reservoir to enable practically the entire contents thereoitov be discharged. A union 15 enables the ready attachment and disconnection of that portion of the tube Which is exterior of thereservoir to and from that portion Which extends into the reservoir through the packing gland 16.

The inert chemical, as a liquid solution oi? bicarbonate of soda, for example, is introduced into the pressure chamber through a threaded nipple 17 communicating therewith, on which is screwed a cap er plug 18.

The acid is held in a receptacle 23 apart from the inert chemical, and there must be vno accidental commin ling of the acid and chemical. rllhis necessitates the provision ot means for securely sealingthe acid container.

ner-see 0n the other hand, means must' be provided to edect the instantaneous and automatic mixture of the acid with the chemical upon the occurrence of a blaze or of a dangerous degree of heat, which requires that the closure for the acid container be readily disabled, and the contents of the receptacle distributed in the normally inert chemical solution.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the acid be renewed from time to time in order to preserve its strength and insure the generation of a large volume of gas. This necessitates that the acid container be readily accessible to permit its removal and replacement, and also, that the automatic acid-rcleasing means be o1 a simple character to enable the operator to spring it when removing the acid container, and reset it when rcplacing the container, without dama-ge. is the acid used is often dangerous to handle, and 4its action when mixed with the inert chemical, practically instantaneous, ll have contrived a supporting and releasing means which meets every condition of safety, instant action, simplicity and accessibility.

The cap or plug 18 (Figs. 2 to 8) is preterably recessed on its inner tace, as at 19, (Fig. li), a sealing disk or closure 20 being seated therein. A flange orbracket 21 is fastened to the inner face of the cap adjacent the recess, the free end of the bracket extending partially across the recess and being inclined downwardly therefrom to coact with a clamping member 22 in sustaining the acid container 23.

This angular clamping member 22 passes through, and is sWiveled in the cap at a point substantially opposite the bracket. IThe inner end of this member comprises an armor finger 24, Which may be slightly curved (see Figs. 3 and 5) as is the tree edgeof the bracket or flange 21. 'Ehe acid.

esy

receptacle 23 is generally a glass bottle er y vial, the neck ot which, in the present instance, is outwardly beveled or dared, as at 25, the inclination of the bracket conforming thereto. 'llhe mouth 26 ot the acid bottle enters the recess 19 and is closed by Vend terminating in a hook 29. The clampin 'l member 22 is resilient, and after the bottle 23 has been placed in the position shown in Fig. a, the arm 27 is swung from its release position, shovvn'in Fig. 6, to its etiective position, shown in Fig. 3, whereby against the beveled neck of the acid container, at which time the hooked end 29 of the outer arm has passed between a pair ofv posts y30 fastened in the outer face of the cap 18, whereupon a pin or bolt`31 is. in.

serted between the hook 29 and the posts (seg Fig. to hold the clamp in eiective pos1tion. 2

The arm or linger 24 exerts a pressure against the beveled neck of the container 23 which forces or crowds the lmouth ofthe container against the seal to absolutely prevent the entrance ofthe inert chemical to the acid receptacle, due to any shaking or change in position of the vessel, 6, 12. At the same time, there is no danger of breaking the glass bottle on account of such pressure, because of the resiliency of the clamp.

The bolt 3l is preferably recessed as at (Fig. 10) to iit over the posts 30 which prevents accidental endwise displacement of the bolt. The upper ends of the 4posts 30 are bent over, as at 33, and coperate with the hooked end 29 of the clamping member to prevent lateral displacement of the bolt or pin 31. l

A spring 34, seated for protection against injury, in the recess 28 on the outer face of the cap, exerts its tension against the arm 27 to shift the clamp to idle position (Fig.

A 6), but is normally restrained from operation by the engagement of the bolt 31 and v posts 30, the spring, by its pressure, aiding in maintaining the bolt effective against accidentally jarring out of place, by taking up all looseness.

It will be seen that the acid container 23 may be readily applied to the cap 18, the clamping arm 24 tensioned to coact with the bracket 21 in holding the bottle in sealed position, and the bolt 31 slipped into place between the hooked end 29 of the outer arm 27 of the clamping member and the posts 30,aft`erwhich the cap may be screwed onto i the nipple.

The removal of the acid receptacle is as easily accomplished by first unscrewing and removing the cap, and then pressing the outer arm 27 to shift its'hooked end'29' away from the posts 30, in a direction to release the bolt 31, after the removal of which, the arm 27 may be slowly released against its own resiliency and the tension of the spring 34 until the clamping arm 24 releases the bottle, which may'then be removed, emptied, relilled and replaced as above'explained.

The automatic release of the acid receptacle 23 is effected by making the bolt or pin 31 of fusible material. Thus,y upon the occurrence of a blaze or adangerous degree of heat, adjacent thefuse, the latter breaks, freeing the arm,27 to the action ofv the springl34, which shifts the clamping arm 24 'to release thel bottle or receptacle (Figs. 6 to 8). As the eXtent of contact of the flange 21 with the neck of the bottle is much `less thanhalf the circumference ofthe neck, the bracket alone is insuiiicient to support the bottle wheny the clamp is disabled. Hence, the bottle, due to the Weight of the liquid therein, slips ofi' the inclined bracket 21 and is submerged in the inert chemical inthe pressure chamber 12; I

A float or cork 35 fastened to one side of the bottom of the bottle as by astrap 36, tends to invert the bottle when it is freed from the clamp, to insure the rapid dissemination of its contents throughout the inert chemical.

' Such mixture of the acid and chemical immediately generates a large volume of gas in the pressure chamber 12.l

Heretofore, this gas pressure was utilized to discharge the commingled liquid itself onto the fire vzone, but this liquid is ruinous 'to fabrics, or metals, and consequently I Ithe reservoir, I provide the partition 13 with an opening 37 (Eigs. 2 and 9) located well above the liquid level in the two compartments, which opening is normally closed by a valve 38 resting against a gasket 39 surrounding `the opening. .l This valve ,is made self-adjusting and universally tiltable by being supported at its center by a spring 40, which also holds the valve to its seat and enables it to adjust itself to any inequalities therein. f

The gas pressure within the chemical chamber 12 forces the valve 38 from its seat and enters the reservoir above the liquid level therein, but the4 gas generating chemicals cannot enter the reservoir because of the inaccessibility of the opening 37.

It will be obvious that my invention'is 'bolt 31, the cost of which is negligible.

Changes may bemade in the form and arrangement ofthe rseveral features without departing from the spiritand, scope of the4 invention. l

What I claim as new, 1s l r 1. The -combmatlon 1n an 'automaticfire extinguisher, with a pressure chamber containing a normally inert liquid,of"an acid container within the chamber, having an open mouth and an inclined portion; a closure adjacent the open mouth of the container; a resilient clamp to releasably engage the inclined portion of the container and press the open mouth thereof against the closure; and means to automatically release the clamp. j

2. rl`he combination in an automatic lire extinguisher; of an acid container having a flaring portion, and an open mouth; a closure adjacent the open mouth; a rigid inclined bracket engaged by the flaring portion; a resilient clamp in contact 'with the flaring portion at apoint substantially opposite the bracket to cooperate with the latter in supporting the container, and to press the open mouth of the container against the closure; and means to automatically disable the clamp, to enable the container to free itself from the bracket.

8. The combination in an automatic fire extinguisher; of a container having a flaring portion7 and an open mouth; a bracket engaged by one side of 'the container, the bracket alone being insufficient to support the container; a clamp to contact with the flaring portion substantially opposite the bracket to coact therewith in supporting the j container; and means to automatically ydisable the clamp.

4. rllhe combination in an automatic fire extinguisher; of a container; a shiftable clamp to releasably retain the container in normal position, the clamp including an arm having a hook; means tending to shift the clamp in one direction to e'ect the release of the container; posts between which the arm projects; and a fusible bolt interposed between the posts and the hooked portion of the arm to lock the clamp in eective position.

5. rlihe combination in an automatic fire extinguisher; of a container; a shiftable clamp to releasably retain the container in normal position, the clamp including an arm having a hook; means tending to shift the clamp in one directionto eect the release of the container; posts between which the arm projects; and a fusible bolt interposed between the posts and the hooked portion of the arm to lock the clamp in effective position, the posts being hooked to prevent accidental displacement of the bolt.

6.The combination in an automatic fire extinguisher; of a container; a shiftable clamp to releasably retain the container in normal position, the clamp including an arm having a hook; means tending to shift the clamp in one direction to effect the release of the container; posts between which the arm projects; and a fusible bolt interposed between the posts and the hooked portion of the arm to lock the clamp in edective position, the bolt being recessed to t naiv/,ase

-of the cap; a` clamp swiveled in the cap; the

acid container held between the bracket and clamp; and means to edeot the automatic release of the clamp.

8. rllhe combination with an automatic hre extinguisher having a pressure chamber conv taining a normallyinert liquid,4 and provided with an opening; of a cap to removably close the opening; a separate acid container, having a daring portion; a rigid bracket on the inner face` of the cap, engaged by the container; a clamp swiveled in the cap and having an arm to engage the flaring portion of the container substantially opposite the bracket; means normally tending to disengage the clamp from the container; and fusible locking means to retain the clamp effective. V

9. rlllie combination with an automatic tire extinguisher having a pressure chamber containing a normally inert liquid, and provided with an opening; of a cap to removably close the opening, the cap being recessedon both its inner and outer faces; a sealing disk within the inner recess; an acid container having an open mouth entered in the inner recess; a bracket adjacent the inner recess, engaged by the container; a resilient clamp, angular in shape, and shiftably mounted in the cap, one arm of the clamp adapted to engage the container at a point substantially opposite the bracket to coperate with the bracket in supporting the container firmly in place; the remaining armof the clamp extending across the outer recess in the cap; means seated in 'the outer recess tending to shift the clamp to inoperative position to release the container; and a fusible lock to retain the clamp e'ective.

10. lnan automatic fire extinguisher, the combinationof a container having an open mouth; a removable closure having a recess entered by the open mouth of the container; a sloping bracket to contact one side of the container and insudicient alone to support the container; a clamp to contact the container at a point substantially opposite the bracket, to coact therewith in supporting the container; and means to release the clamp.

11. ln an automatic hre extinguisher, the

combination with a pressure chamber; and i a receptacle whose contents must normally be separate from the contents of lthe presi sure chamber; of a self contained support and release for the' receptacle, comprising a cap removably tted into the wall of the i pressure chamber; permanent and shiftable supports coacting' to' secure the 'receptacle to the cap against leakage; a manually-removable heat-affected lock to hold the shiftable support effective, and a spring to disable the hilftable support upon the failure of the 12. An automatic fire extinguisher coinprising a iuid reservoir; a pressure chambei` containing an inert chemical and having' a communication With the reservoir located above the level of the inert chemical; a spring-pressed valve normally closing such communication and opened by pressure from the pressure chamber; an acid4 container within the .pressure chamber; releasable means to normally support the acidv container With its contents intact; a fusible locktact, such means tending to release the container; a locking device adapted to be disabled by an undue degree of heat, to permit the automatic release of the container by its supporting means; and a discharge pipe leading from the container.

14. An automatic fire extinguisher com-- prising a liquid reservoir; a pressure generating chamber containing a normally inert chemical, in communication therewith; an

acid container; automatically releasable means to normally support the container; a fuse to hold the supporting means'4 effective; a spring-pressed universally tiltable valve in the communication between the reservoir and chamber adapted'to be displaced by pressure Within the chamber; and a dis- A charge pipe leading from the reservoir.

l5. In an automatic lire extinguisher, the combination with a pressure chamber, having a normally inert chemical introduced through an opening therein; of a removable cap to close the opening; an acid container; means carried by the cap and extending therethrough into the pressure chamber to lreleasably secure the acid container to the cap; and fusible means mounted on the cap eXteriorly thereof to coperate with the outer portion of the container-securing means to look it in effective position, and so maintain it, While removing the cap and container from and applying it to the chamber. s.

' 16. In an automatic fire extinguisher, the I combination with a pressure chamber, hav- .ing a normally inert chemical introduced through an opening therein; and an Aacid container, the-contents of which is adapted to `be commingled With theinert'chemical;

of a self-contained combined support for the acid container, closure for the opening, and

support-disabling means, comprising a capl removably secured in the opening; a holding means mounted in the cap and extending into the pressure chamber to releasably secure the acid container to the cap; and fusible means carried by the cap exteriorly thereof, to engage the outer portion of the holding means and lock it in elfective position.

GEORGE F. sTEPHNsoN. 

